How to Relieve Jaw and Ear Pain at Home

That persistent ache radiating from your jaw to your ear can turn simple activities like eating or talking into painful ordeals.

Ear pain and jaw pain affects many Americans, making it difficult to enjoy meals, speak comfortably, or even get restful sleep. Luckily, you can find relief without always needing a doctor's appointment.

What Causes Jaw and Ear Pain?

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) are typically the main source of combined jaw and ear discomfort. Your temporomandibular joints connect your jawbone to your skull on each side of your face, directly adjacent to your ears. When these joints become inflamed or dysfunctional, pain often radiates to both areas.

TMJ disorders can develop from everyday factors like teeth grinding during sleep, stress that causes jaw clenching, arthritis affecting the joint, past injuries to the jaw, or even poor posture that puts strain on your neck and jaw muscles.

You might also experience jaw pain near the ear from other conditions like sinus infections, dental problems, ear infections, or referred pain from migraines. The proximity of these structures explains why pain in one area often affects the other.

TMJ Symptoms

You might experience pain or tenderness in your jaw that often extends to your ear, along with clicking or popping sounds when moving your mouth. Some people notice their jaw occasionally locks open or closed.

Headaches, specifically around the temples, frequently accompany jaw discomfort is another common TMJ symptom . Ear symptoms like ringing or stuffiness may occur even without infection.

How to Relieve TMJ Jaw and Ear Pain

Finding ear and jaw pain relief usually requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some effective strategies on how to relieve jaw and ear pain:

Home Remedies

There are many at home remedies you can use to relieve jaw and ear pain:

Apply Appropriate Temperature Therapy

Use warm, moist heat for ongoing dull pain for about 15 minutes, several times a day. You can also apply ice wrapped in a thin towel for acute pain, 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off.

Temporarily Modify Your Diet

Choose softer foods that require less chewing and cut your food into smaller pieces to reduce jaw movement. You should also avoid chewy foods like bagels, tough meats, or crunchy items, and entirely stop chewing gum.

Practice Jaw Conscious Relaxation

Try to keep your teeth slightly apart throughout the day and place your tongue against the roof of your mouth with your teeth separated. Do your best to become aware of unconscious clenching.

Improve Your Sleep Position

Avoid sleeping on your stomach, because it twists your neck and jaw, and use a supportive pillow that maintains proper alignment. If you tend to grind your teeth, consider a dental night guard.

Maintain Good Daily Posture

Sit with your back supported and your shoulders relaxed, and don’t rest your chin on your hand during the day. You can also take breaks from fixed positions.

Therapies

Physical therapy for earache and jaw pain offers significant benefits for TMJ sufferers. A qualified therapist can provide:

• Specific jaw exercises to strengthen and stretch tight muscles
• Proper alignment techniques to reduce joint strain
• Massage methods you can continue at home
• Massage methods you can continue at home

These techniques help restore normal movement patterns and decrease the muscle tension that contributes to your pain. Patients often report improvement after just a few sessions of targeted physical therapy.

Medications

For temporary relief, you can consider several options. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen reduce both pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen helps manage pain symptoms without addressing inflammation. Your doctor might prescribe muscle relaxants for short-term use during severe episodes.

Surgical or Other Procedures

Most people won't need surgical intervention, but when conservative treatments fail, you may need:

• Arthrocentesis to flush inflammatory byproducts from the joint
• Corticosteroid injections for targeted inflammation relief
• Botox to relax chronically tense jaw muscles

These options are typically reserved for cases that don't respond to less invasive approaches.

FAQs

What is the most common cause of ear and jaw pain?

TMJ disorders are typically the primary cause of combined ear and jaw pain. The jaw joint sits very close to the ear canal, which is why problems with this joint often create pain that radiates to both areas. Habits like teeth grinding, stress-related jaw clenching, and poor posture are common triggers.

When should I go to the doctor for jaw and ear pain?

See your doctor if pain persists for longer than two weeks despite home remedies, or if you have severe symptoms that interfere with eating or sleeping. You should get immediate care if you have fever with jaw pain, cannot fully open or close your mouth, or experience intense pain that disrupts any daily activities.

How do I know if my ear pain is from TMJ?

Ear pain related to TMJ usually occurs alongside jaw discomfort and changes when you move your jaw. You’ll probably hear clicking when opening your mouth, and your pain may extend to your temples or neck. TMJ-related ear pain typically doesn't cause drainage, fever, or hearing loss like ear infections do.

Final Thoughts

You don't have to accept jaw and ear pain as an inevitable part of life. Once you understand the connection between these areas and implement the right combination of self-care and professional treatment when needed, you can find lasting relief.

Learn more about potential causes of jaw and ear pain.